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In three articles, this was particularly confpicuous. The purchase of the plantation APPENDIX. tools, the purchase of the falt provisions, and the chartering of ships, the carrying out women and children, was, though it may not appear so at first sight, a great cause of expense, and a principal one of failure.—I have now enumerated what appears to me, to have been among the principal caufes of our miscarriage; if they appear not in the fame light to others, I could wish that they would reconfider them. They are almost all of them demonftrably true; but, as I before observed, I shall only affert, and leave others to trace, how and in what manner, they operated perniciously towards our enterprize. We come now to the other question.

Secondly. Of the Probability of future Success.

910." Our first failure will here be of great fervice to us, if we confider our former Probability of errors as so many beacons, put up to warn us of danger. The three firft which I future fucceis. have enumerated, seem to have been the most essential, and, except the first, are eafily avoided, as well as all the rest. May I be permitted, without the imputation of vanity, to say, that after all our former difficulties, my having been able with only four Europeans, and without the smallest fuccour or affistance, to keep poffeffion of the ifland for the laft year, to cut down 50 acres of timber, 16 of which were inclosed, and the roots taken up, to erect three large buildings, and to raise with ease, vegetables enough for more than 50 times our number, afford a sufficient proof of the certainty of future fuccefs. But as it may here be expected, that I fhould enter a little into particulars, I fhall more fully state the grounds of my opinion.

from one A foil capable Except on of producing every tropical Every article.

911." The end, I believe, propofed by the major part of the fubfcribers, was the Reafons for cultivation of cotton, others proposed growing fugars, coffee, tobacco, and indigo, this opinion. while a few hoped to drive on an advantageous commerce with the natives, for ivory, wax, and other productions of that part of Africa. The prospect of those, whose views are confined to cultivation, must depend entirely upon foil; and this, I am warranted to say, from the univerfal concurrence of those who have seen it, whether natives or Europeans, is remarkably fertile. It is deep, that is foot and a half to two feet. I never faw a rock or stone upon the island. one small space close under the block house, I never faw a foot of bad foil. thing which I planted, throve admirably, and among those plants, 300 were cotton. They were only in blossom when I came away: I therefore had no opportunity of bringing home a fpecimen. But, fuppofing the cotton on that part of the coaft, to be of the very worst quality, it could not at all affect the value of the island, or the probability of its fuccess in its cultivation, as nothing can be more easy, than to carry thither the feeds of either the Bourbon or Pernambuco cotton. The former I be. lieve is reckoned the best in the world, and the latter the next to is about 20, and the latter about 9 degrees fouth of the equator. grees diftant from it, on the north; fo that there cannot be any great difference, in the climates of these three places, but more particularly the two laft; from which I

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it.

The first place
Bulama is 11 de-

fhould

APPENDIX. fhould infer, that equally cotton, planted in equally good foil, either at Bulama or Parnambuco, would be of equal value; fuppofing the Bulama foil to be equally good with that of other countries, in the fame climate, whether north or fouth of the. equator, I fee no reafon why, with equal cultivation, equally good fugar, coffee, and tobacco, might not be produced on that island, as that which we know is produced, in the fame degree of both north and fouth latitude.

and an excellent fituation for trade.

912. "An advantageous commerce, I know may be carried on with the natives, in the two articles of ivory and wax. The central fituation of Bulama, it's harbour being a great thoroughfare for the Portuguese trade, it's proximity to the three great rivers of Gambia, Grande, and Nunez, and the innumerable inlets, or fmall branches of the sea, navigable far inland with small vessels, between the first and last of those rivers, render it a moft eligible fituation for fuch trade. Is distance from Europe, is not fo great as that of the W. Indies; the navigation to it is fafe and fecure; it contains one of the finest harbours I ever faw; the sea abounds with fish; and the number of animals, but more particularly elephants, buffaloes, and deer, on the island, is almoft incredible. The teeth of the former, and the hides, I fhould fuppofe, of the latter, are articles of commercial confideration. With fuch advan. tages of foil and fituation, a trifling fum, expended in a judicious manner, for the equipment of a small number of men, embarked on board two or three little vessels, and directed by a man of common sense and great power would, in my opinion, preclude a doubt of fuccefs. It might be commanded; but, when I fay it might be commanded, I presuppose a greater firmness in those who go out, and more zeal and activity in those who remain at home, than has hitherto been evinced by either. "I am Sir, &c.

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Soil of Bulama excellent,

SIR,

Mr. Hood's Letter of the fame Dale.

913. (17). "AS I am lately returned with Mr. Beaver from Bulama, and not being perfonally known to the gentlemen who have the direction of the business, I therefore think it my duty, to give you my opinion of the island. It is a fine, light, fandy loam, of considerable depth, and free from stones, and appears to be as and yields well fine land as any in England. But we do not go from appearances only, but proofs. Mr. Beaver laid out a garden, and fenced it in, and prepared the ground against the laft feafon, in order to fow the feeds brought out from England; but they being at least two years old, and damaged fo much, few of them came up. Not being able to get any more, we were obliged to apply to the Portuguese at Biffao. Befides, Mr. Beaver being defirous to make trial of all that could be got, agreed with all the commanders of the canoes, that came to Bulama, to bring all the feeds and plants they could, by which means he got as follows, viz. plantains, bananas, papaws,

goavas,

goavas, oranges, limes, cotton, pepper, callavaces, pine apples, yams, caffada APPENDIX. pumpkins, water mellons, cucumbers, ground nuts, mint, parfley, &c. All thofe throve in a surprising manner, and I make no doubt, but European feeds would grow well.

&c.

914. "In general, the island is well covered with useful timber, both for house Fine timber, and ship building; befides fome close hard-grained woods, that would make good furniture, and I think, would make excellent wood for turning. I never have been able to learn the names of any of the woods, though I never missed asking every one who I thought knew any thing of it. We have plenty of elephants, buffaloes, deer, Guinea-fowls, monkeys, &c. The only beast of prey I have seen, was a wolf. There are plenty of fish, all round the island, and at low water you may get plenty of oysters, which are excellent. And, fince we have have got a large fpot of land cleared, and all the rubbish burnt, the place is not only healthier, but more beautiful than any other place I have seen in Africa. The land is good, and capable of bringing forth any thing that wants deep root, as well as richness of foil.—Although I never worked so hard in my life, I have enjoyed, the latter part of my time, as good health as in all my life.

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Extract of Letter, containing an Account of the Iland of Bulama, by J. Young,
Efq. a Member of the Council.

915." The atmosphere of the island is remarkably falubrious, as we all can testify, Climate. particularly a large party, who having loft themselves in the woods, by indiscreetly venturing too far without a compass, paffed 5 days and as many night, in open air, without any sickness having refulted from it. The utmoft heat, while we were there, by Farenheit's thermometer, being 84, tempered by a pleasant sea breeze, which enabled our people to work during the whole day without inconvenience.

916. "The foil is exuberantly fertile, as is evident from the spontaneous vegeta- Soil. tion that every where appears, and from the aspect of the garden which we made, wherein all the efculent vegetables of the European gardens, as well as fugar-canes, plantains, bananas, pine apples, the lime, the orange, the guava, the olive, and the vine of several species, which the Hankey brought from Teneriffe, throve with a luxuriance that feemed marvellous to Englishmen, who were unacquainted with the combined effects of heat and moisture, upon rich and new land. The foil of the margin of the island, appears to be a red fand, mixed with loam; that of the interior favannahs, or natural meadows, a black mould. The country is agreeably diverfified with undulating grounds, but poffeffes no land of such elevation, as to merit the denomination of a hill. Yet it contains many fprings and brooks, according to the united teftimony of feveral gentlemen who have traversed it. There are a few iron

ftones

APPENDIX.

Animals,

fruits,

roots, &c.

Infects.

Lands purchaled, &c.

ftones between high and low water mark; but we did not discover any of those beds of oyfter-fhells, and quarries of freestone, which, according to La Brue, it contains.

917." The fhores abound with fish of many species, and of which, with a feine to each fhip, we took daily, in a few hours, as much as we could confume. The woods abound with a delicious fpecies of deer, of a mouse colour, and about the size of large greyhounds, called by the natives of Sierra Leona (where the fame fpecies is found) Fillimtombo; also with buffaloes, elephants, monkeys, Guinea-fowls, partridges, pheafants, Mufcovy ducks, and pigeons. There are alfo fome ferocious animals. These devoured a pair of oxen, 4 affes, and upwards of 40 goats and sheep, which were landed from the Hankey, before an inclosure could be prepared for them; but when the country comes to a be little cleared, those implacable savages will retire, as is their custom, from the habitations of men. Its spontaneous fruits are plums of various species, some of them of an agreeable flavour; a fruit of about the fize of an oftrich's egg, with a yellow pulp of a sharp acid, like a tamarind, and a species of well tafted grape, whose stock or vine resembles that of a kidney bean, climbing up the flender trees.

918. "It's roots are yams, eddoes, cassada, and a kind of fweet potato. It has trees which exude gums of various fpecies; and it is extremely probable, that it contains camwood and other dying woods, in common with the continent. It's trees are for the most part very large, with spreading branches, but not very lofty, like thofe in the forefts of America. There is neither underwood nor brambles in these woods; but the wild grafs grows under their fhade as in a well-watered meadow.

919. "We faw no ferpents, or other poisonous reptiles; but the white ants are faid to be troublesome at fome feafons. Communities of them which are very fre. quent, dwell in hillocks about ten feet in height, and which were at first taken for huts of the natives. Thefe may easily be destroyed by building up wood about them and fetting fire to it. Swarms of bees, that make honey of a delicious flavour, are very numerous in the woods, and which may easily be domefticated."

*

Extract of a Letter from Mr. J. Munden, to Mr, Flynn dated Bulama. 920. "Our floop went up the Rio Grande to purchase a large tract of land, oppofite our island, belonging to the Biafaras, and returned last night, having made the purchase of the wished-for land, which is larger than all Bulama. We have likewife the ifland of Arcas. Fowls are very plenty up the rivers. The land we have purchased is wonderfully fine, and easy of cultivation. The country near the rivers abounds with cattle of all forts, and a vast number of elephants. We have never met with beasts to annoy us, we have also cotton growing in our garden, and our peas and other vegetables flourish."

Extract of a Letter from Charles Drake, Efq. to Meff. Jackson, Sykes and Rushforth, at Manchefter, dated S. Leona.

921.

APPENDIX.

Bulama.

"With respect to the Island of Bulama, I think it one of the most pleasant Soil, &c. of I ever faw, abounding in a variety of fowl, deer and game: the foil particularly rich and fertile, and vegetation remarkably quick, as was observed by fome feeds we fet, which came up almost instantaneously. It feems well adapted for sugar and every other W. Indian produce; and, on the whole, I am perfuaded it will prove an important object to the subscribers, particularly when a charter or grant is obtained, and a permanent government established, also people endowed with zeal and activity fent out to conduct the enterprize.

Mortality not

owing to cli

mate,

922. "We left the remains of feveral of our people at Bulama; but I know of none whofe decease might not be accounted for, by their being addicted to drink rum."-See § 546, 572. 923." With respect to this place, I have not time to give you my opinion of it in which is betthe manner I could wish. If we may judge by its effects, it is not near so healthy as Bulama. We are under much obligation to Mr. Clarkson's civility and attention. I wish some of his kind proposals had been accepted. He, however, pofitively refused allowing me to land my tobacco, which obliged me to send it to Bance Island, with my hardwares, &c,

ter than that of S. Leona,

924." With respect to the general trade of this coaft, I have formed the moft flat- Commercial tering expectations. I can plainly perceive a market for an immenfe quantity of prospects. British goods. The natives barter for our articles, with a great deal of avidity, and by them we can get a very confiderable profit.

particulars af

certained.

"I think there can be no difficulty in difpofing of the remaining land, (of Important 925. Bulama) on the arrival of the Calypfo, even at a very confiderable advance; as it will then be known we have fucceeded in many things that before were doubtful; namely,―That we have purchased and taken possession of the Island, with the full and entire approbation of every power who made any kind of claim to the island; that we find, what before we had many doubts about, viz. feveral rivulets and springs*, and plenty of fresh water on the island. The air, particularly the west point, which is open to the fea, is falubrious †, and the whole island infinitely more healthy, than either the Portuguese settlement of Biffao in it's neighbourhood, or the fettlement of S. Leona.

926.
"Under these circumftances, nothing can poffibly prevent the fuccefs of the
plan, but a want of zeal and activity in those who undertake the execution of it.

It is to be obferved that the rainy season was not over when Mr. D. left the island. See § 529.
This perfectly agrees with Mr. Dalrymple's opinion of the W. Point. See the Map.

Nothingwanting but a charter, &c.

2

There

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